Feinstein's Signature and What It Means

As many of you have already learned, Senator Feinstein just became the eleventh senator to sign on to a renewed Democratic push to encourage Senate Leader Harry Reid to use reconciliation to pass a public option. (Dr. Dean provides an online format for you to co-sign the letter.)

For the record, Feinstein became one of the first of the "centrist" Democratic Senators to sign this particular letter. But let me offer some caution with this happy news.

This is a signature on a letter. Right now, that's all it is. (And we've had her signature on a pro-public option letter last October, and it got us nowhere.)

Senator Feinstein did not sign this week's letter because 1,200 of us wrote polite letters to her; or put together and attended thoughtful bipartisan policy seminars; or baked cakes for her and her staff; or phone-banked until our fingers went numb. We have done all of those things to no lasting effect.

These are two of the more likely reasons Senator Feinstein signed that letter:

1) The Coakley loss in Massachusetts last month, which made it resoundingly clear that incumbents and Democratic establishment candidates are under attack; and

2) Anthem's recent 39% rate hike, which no doubt generated a large volume of outraged phone calls to her office.

Thusly, if you're thinking of calling Senator Feinstein's office to thank her, let me suggest that it's clear she responds far more actively to negative feedback.

That is understandable. If you want the Senator's respect and cooperation, then remember that she is your public servant and not the other way around. Servants don't respect employers who try to simultaneously give orders and pretend they are also the servant's B.F.F.

So call Senator Feinstein's office staff in San Francisco or in D.C. and be clear about what her job entails. (Separately: It's perfectly appropriate and important to be very polite to her hardworking staff.) Tell the staff that you would like to leave a message for the Senator. Here is the suggested message:

"I find it very interesting that Dianne Feinstein is making a late push for the public option by signing this week's letter to Harry Reid. I understand that everyone from Teddy Roosevelt to Richard Nixon supported national health insurance. And I know that the majority of Americans, including Californians, want a public option.

"But I can't thank the senator without results. As a longtime loyal Democrat, I no longer have any patience for Senate Democrats' antics. I note that Senator Feinstein signed the Brown letter for the public option last October, but she provided so little REAL support for it that Nancy Pelosi was calling it dead as recently as two weeks ago.

"There are eleven signatures on this week's letter to Harry Reid; Senator Feinstein should be twisting arms to get all 51 signatures on that letter. She can start with Senator Boxer.

"Therefore, this is a 'fair notice' call. Senator Feinstein, as someone with enormous unspent influence in the Senate, can make that signature mean something, or she can face a rebuke from this California Democrat. For the Senator enjoys the mind-boggling perks and privileges of her office only AT MY DISCRETION. I am a voter, and I have not yet had all of my electoral power stripped from me."

It would then be perfectly appropriate to tell the staffer that you appreciate their hard work, and that you wish them a nice day. You can even thank them. But don't thank the Senator for signing a lousy letter; thank her when - and if - she delivers the goods.

Yours truly,

Eva